“Young quarterbacks usually experience some bumps in the road, and I’m just going to take them in stride”, Wentz said.
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Soon, we will begin to find out.
By making a major play for Wentz, the Eagles are essentially claiming that he will be their quarterback of the future.
His only action this preseason came against the Buccaneers, a game in which he suffered a hairline fracture of two ribs, but the injury has healed.
That said, Pederson added: “Here’s the thing”.
Nobody knows if it will or won’t. But they’re trying not to give Wentz any bulletin-board material heading into Sunday’s game against the Eagles. We take this one day at a time and one game at a time.
Three Eagles played in a season opener as rookies: Randall Cunningham (1985), John Reaves (1972) and Jack Concannon (1964).
There’s no way they can start Daniel and claim that they’re still competing. That’s because now, their QB bench lacks depth with only Wentz and his backup Chase Daniel on the lineup.
The players available Monday said they were somewhat shocked but quickly adjusted to the news that their starter, Sam Bradford, had been traded just 48 hours earlier.
“Sam and I had a great conversation”, Pederson said. Not later. Immediately. Just days after the rookie quarterback had been declared 100 percent healthy.
What would you need to see from Bradford to believe he’s ready? Philadelphia received a 2017 first round pick and a 2018 fourth round pick from Minnesota in exchange for Bradford. The Eagles’ roster is also full of veterans who don’t have many more chances at a Super Bowl.
Much like the Eagles believed they could possibly sneak into the playoffs with Bradford in a weak division, the Vikings think they can make their way deep into the postseason with Bradford. The Birds have also churned through Mark Sanchez and Matt Barkley. “But believe me, it’s not going to get in the way of my preparation”.
Ertz has been here three years and has played with five different quarterbacks. When Pederson chose not to play Johnson in the Birds’ 14-6 preseason victory over the New York Jets Thursday, it was clear that he was planning on having him available for the opener.
“We have to make judgments on the individual players and we’re not always going to be right”, DePodesta told Grossi back in July.
“This is why we drafted [Wentz]”. I knew I was taking the mental reps being out the last couple weeks, even going into the first preseason game I felt very confident. What if he thinks he can create plays against National Football League defenses and coordinators with his much-touted footwork and arm, only to be battered into trauma, physically and professionally? And obviously some guys think that’s Carson. “We’ll see how it goes”.
“It’s hard to explain exactly”, Zimmer said, “but command of the offence, understand what we’re doing, know where to go with the ball, know the checks”. He’s not asking anyone to go out of their way to play like Superman or play like Lawrence Taylor out there or Mike Ditka or whoever it may be.
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Long snapper Jon Dorenbos will return to Los Angeles next Tuesday for the finals of America’s Got Talent. His numbers were modest – 2,424 passing yards and 12 TDs against eight INTs – but good enough to take the Eagles to an 11-5 record and an NFC East title.
